Artem Oganov Talks about the 2024 VYZOV Prize Application Process

The call for applications for the VYZOV National Prize for Future Technologies closes on May 20th. Chairman of the award’s Scientific Committee Artem Oganov spoke to Izvestiya about how research done by some of its laureates may change the world around us in the nearest future, and what countries have scientists applied from so far for the award’s international category titled ‘Discovery.’ Here is an excerpt from that interview. 

 

Q: The call for applications for the VYZOV Prize was announced over two months ago. Are you seeing any trends in how applications are coming in? Is there more activity in certain disciplines?

 

A: Last year, we saw very impressive performance from physicists, and a biomedical scientist became Scientist of the Year. Applications for this years’ awards are still coming in, and we don’t know at this point how various disciplines will be represented, but our award is open for scientists working in any area of natural or technical sciences or engineering. VYZOV has also added a new, international category titled ‘Discovery,’ and we have already received some very interesting submissions from Italy, Germany, Austria, China and Israel, to name a few countries. Those who would like to apply still have time till May 20th.

 

Q: One of the criteria for applicants says their research must have a horizon of up to 10 years for practical application. If we look at last year’s applicants and laureates, will we be able to see and to use some of their inventions or new technologies in the nearest future? How will they influence our day-to-day life?

 

A: As far as last year’s laureates are concerned, I think we will see all of their scientific achievements in practical application within the next ten years. That includes quantum and optical computing research, new treatment methods for brain diseases, and a superpower electromagnet based on high-temperature superconductors (there is already production set up for the latter, by the way).

 

Q: Regarding Russia’s new Strategy for Scientific and Technological Development recently approved by the President, what are the key changes that you see?

 

A: One should bear in mind that you cannot squeeze all of science into the Procrustean bed of standards and regulations. We need all of science, including both applied and fundamental science and research that seemingly has nothing to do with the nation’s economic development, because sooner or later, it will produce groundbreaking practical results.

 

To cite one of the most prominent examples, when Albert Einstein formulated the theory of relativity in early 20th Century, explaining gravity as a result of the curving of space and time, it seemed that his findings would never have any practical application. But today, every navigation app in the world accounts for general relativity when calculating distance, otherwise their positioning would be incorrect and your taxi wouldn’t be able to pick you up at the right spot and get you to your destination. That is how all of science works: even things that seem to have no practical use may evolve into breakthrough technologies over time.

 

Every nation needs a short- to medium-term strategy identifying priority areas for development, but it is also important to support scientific research in all areas and disciplines, including those that seem remote from practical application.

 

Read the full interview by Izvestiya here (https://iz.ru/1693557/mariia-nediuk/mezhdunarodnye-organizatcii-vrode-tcern-predali-sami-sebia).

 

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